Exploitation in name of parking fee in Odisha capital!

Bhubaneswar: Along with increasing number of personal vehicles in the smart city Bhubaneswar, several complaints were made by the denizens alleging exploitation in name of collecting parking fee at major places.

Several incidents were reported in media in the recent days about the officials engaged at the parking sites doing ‘dadagiri’ with the public.

While the officials charging Rs 10-Rs 15 for two-wheeler, the parking costs Rs 30 for the car instead of Rs 20 in several places under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). At times, the officials are not giving money receipt to the vehicle owners for parking.

The illegal parking fee collection is rampant mostly during events at the places like Exhibition Ground, Janata Maidan and Adivasi Ground

Sources said that the BMC has fixed Rs 5 as the parking fee for two wheeler and Rs 20 for car. But, many places the officials are charging Rs 10 for bike at the parking site without receipt. When anyone objects to the illegal parking fee, he will have to face the bullying behaviour of the official.

Such an incident was reported yesterday evening at Exhibition Ground where someone had parked his bike without receipt. After he returned to take his bike, an inebriated official asked him to pay Rs 10. When he asked why he will pay without receipt, the official started abusing him and along with other persons he threatened him to kill. They fled the spot after some media persons and police personnel, who were present at Exhibition Ground for a programme attended by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, reached the place.

However, the BMC denied such allegations.

Hotel collects parking fee near Railway station in Bhubaneswar

The officials of a hotel located near platform number 6 of Railway Station at Master Canteen without having permission from BMC are charging Rs 10-Rs 15 per bike for parking on the road. In case of parking the vehicle at other place not keeping it near the hotel, the bike is found damaged or the tyres are found punctured after coming back from the station platform.